The color is a taupe-ish silver, full of a grainy, aluminum like metallic shine-- not gritty to the touch, however. This metallic isn't like most metallics that have a hard shiny fluid, almost plasma like finish. I like this polish-- a neutral color, but a party on my nails at the same time. Great balance! (Check All Lacquered Up's review!)I went for 3 coats to achieve this color. Two coats would have been sufficient, but I wanted more. I had to pay. Of course, three coats done at the nail shop meant getting a rushed job and not adequate dry in between applications. I have Seche Vite as a top coat, but the nail tech's rushed job wasn't helping with streaking and disturbing my last application of the Molten Metal.